Why are golfers so sensitive to noise during their swing?

[nikegolfer93]

just don't get why so many golfers have a tough time mentally with this stuff. I mean, I never chat or make noise when someone's teeing off, but it's kinda weird how some folks quickly blame a chirping bird or someone talking for their bad shot. Come on, it's your swing, right?
 

Are some golfers really that easily distracted by noise?

I'm a big Tiger fan but I never understood why he would throw a tantrum as well when it's been heavily documented about the crap Earl used to do to distract him. 

[Socrates]

It really depends on how or when the noise happens.  If all is nice and quiet and halfway through your backswing a noise happens (bird, club rattle, lawnmower, idiot golfer) that can be unsettling and cause one to flinch.  If noise is happening all the time (like construction or a leaf blower), it doesn't or shouldn't bother anyone.

 

Same thing with movement.  Someone decides to walk behind you as you are swinging.  Or a dolt in a power car decides they need to drive up or around you while you hit. That's downright annoying.  

 

It's the random stuff that happens when you aren't expecting it to happen, that gets you. 

 

A buddy and I laugh about it because it always seems to happen to me and not him.  I can be on an empty course and have some maintenance worker decide to fire up a chainsaw as I'm about to take a swing.  Most assuredly it will result in a MDK (Demolition Man ref.).

[Pepperturbo]

Many people struggle concentrating on all the variables needed to hit the ball, and want to play well, and so rabbit ears develop.   I know a few people that need absolute quiet over the ball.   Having played many sports, I got used to noise and turning it off in my head. 

 

Though not obvious to those around me, the one thing that still annoys me is someone walking directly behind me to the back of the tee, as I address the ball.  Seems everyone who does that likes to scratch his azz or pick his nose in my back swing...grr.  I tell them I do not need help watching my ball, and move off to the side.

 

It depends on a person's life, maybe even their job and what they are accustomed to.

Edited January 13 by Pepperturbo

[MountainKing]

Never got it,  I get so focused when I'm in my shot that a bomb could go off and I wouldn't notice it.  That's just me tho.

[EmperorPenguin]

I think some guys are just looking for excuses for their poor shots.  If they snatch the club inside, swing like gorilla and have a batting average of under .100, what difference does noise make, especially to hackers? 

 

Tripp Isenhour killed a bird while filming an instructional video.  The bird should have been quiet when he was setting up to hit shots.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/pro-golfers-shot-kills-a-protected-birdie/

 

I saw a guy back off a couple times on a tee shot because a crow was gawking behind him.  What do you do, ask the crow to be silent during your stroke?  Blatant double standard, I think.

 

Don't forget also the common problem of guys on a neighboring hole playing music loudly.  Tell them to mute their speaker?

 

I cannot stand hackers with rabbit ears.  I would not play with them.

[kwcsports]

Noise doesn't bug me but moving during my swing can screw me up. Stand still and sing if you want just don't move around haha.

[McMunch]

Funny. I've always thought this. Nobody complains about noise until they send one into the trees.

[charli]

Deep down they’re hoping for a noise so they have something to blame for their terrible shot 

[Socrates]

16 minutes ago, McMunch said:

Funny. I've always thought this. Nobody complains about noise until they send one into the trees.

On one of my last rounds this past season, there were 2 women yapping away.  They were on another fairway with fairly dense bush between us and them.  We could still hear them yammering away like they would never consider using their "inside voice."  My buddy yelled at them to shut the F up.  I wanted them to continue, because one of them had gotten pregnant and I wanted to know how and who did the deed.  I never did find out.

[SaVo_]

I personally, never had any issues with noise, many times id hit when my playing partners would be conversating and they'd apologize for it but i honestly was so zoned in I couldn't tell and always said don't worry about it you talking didn't cause me to hook it 30 yards, it was a poor swing. But I have however had moments some instant noise can catch me off guard in the middle of my swing which i think is pretty normal for most. like a phone going off at the top of my swing, something like that.

 

I feel the people who really have an issue with any small noise around them just look to blame anything but themselves for poor swings. Some of the videos ive seen online of these people I can't fathom how some have such a big ego they can't admit that they need to work on their game and focus on that more than when the next bird is gonna chirp or some tees bouncing around in a guys pocket. 

[Greenie]

3 hours ago, Socrates said:

It really depends on how or when the noise happens.  If all is nice and quiet and halfway through your backswing a noise happens (bird, club rattle, lawnmower, idiot golfer) that can be unsettling and cause one to flinch.  If noise is happening all the time (like construction or a leaf blower), it doesn't or shouldn't bother anyone.

 

Same thing with movement.  Someone decides to walk behind you as you are swinging.  Or a dolt in a power car decides they need to drive up or around you while you hit. That's downright annoying.  

 

It's the random stuff that happens when you aren't expecting it to happen, that gets you. 

2 hours ago, Pepperturbo said:

the one thing that still annoys me is someone walking directly behind me to the back of the tee, as I address the ball.  Seems everyone who does that likes to scratch his azz or pick his nose in my back swing...grr.  I tell them I do not need help watching my ball, and move off to the side.

 

 

 

I am one of those golfers that is sensitive to my surroundings. Sound and sight.

 

It's the noise when I don't expect it that gets me. I seem to pull my head to where the noise is coming from. Birds chirping, lawn mowers etc that are constant around me doesn't bother me. The guy that just yelled "get in the hole" from the next fairway in the middle of my swing always gets me. One guy in our group talks a lot during my swing and it affects my game.

 

The other thing that bothers me is what @Pepperturbo mentions. The same guy that talks a lot in my group will stand behind me. I have had words with this guy before about standing behind me and moving around during my swing. I have great peripheral vision so I pick up movement very easily. Here again seeing this guys movement causes me to pull off the ball.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Roejye]

If it's just consistent ambient noise, it doesn't really bother me. Like others have mentioned, it's the sudden unexpected noise that happens mid swing. My best example of this- I'm playing a solo round with my brother walking the course with me. I oftentimes have an earbud in one ear playing sports talk radio or a podcast, but forgot it this time. I'm playing an approach shot on a par 5, the course is basically empty and it's a rural area, so it's pretty quiet, and right at the top of my backswing he belches. I ended flinching and hit a terrible shot. I doubt I would have stuck it to 6 inches or anything, but the result probably wouldn't have been as bad as it was.

Edited January 13 by Roejye
Typo

[st1800e]

7 hours ago, nikegolfer93 said:

Are some golfers really that easily distracted by noise?

Not bothered by a constant din, but a sudden noise , yes, or someone talking and then they start whispering as you address the ball, which can still be heard….

Cant they just button it for 10 seconds?   
 

Everyone is built different, some more sensitive than others, but 10 seconds of silence is too much to ask?  
 

Yes, I’m going to get piled on, with macho bravado, but where is the courtesy and etiquette?  
 

Look up hyperacusis.  

[ArtMBgolf]

If you are concentrating on a swing key/move that is the only thing working,
a distraction can make you forget that and blow the shot.   
 
I think if someone is a etiquette aficionado, they may be bothered by distractions more 
than those who have no concentration to disrupt.    I believe that distractions from repeat 
offenders are also noticed more, especially if they have been warned often.   
 
You have probably played with some guys that you hardly know they are there when you are hitting, 
and others that couldn't be a worse distraction if they tried.      

[Mr. Bean]

9 hours ago, nikegolfer93 said:

 

Are some golfers really that easily distracted by noise?
 

 

Yes.

[lefty1978]

Many golfers are mentally soft and love to make excuses for everything that goes wrong.

[I'_rather_be_golfing]

I'm the complete opposite. Call me weird. But people talking and walking does not bother me. But what does bother me is when they talk and decide to stop talking and creates an awkward silence. Yes I'm fully aware that its weird

[Hawkeye77]

18 hours ago, nikegolfer93 said:

just don't get why so many golfers have a tough time mentally with this stuff. I mean, I never chat or make noise when someone's teeing off, but it's kinda weird how some folks quickly blame a chirping bird or someone talking for their bad shot. Come on, it's your swing, right?
 

Are some golfers really that easily distracted by noise?

I'm a big Tiger fan but I never understood why he would throw a tantrum as well when it's been heavily documented about the crap Earl used to do to distract him. 

Some are, most aren’t, no revelation there, “golfers” generally aren’t other than rude behavior.
 

Carl’s Golfland ads are hilarious, but not because they represent most days out on the course. 

[Soloman1]

I was trying to write a comment, but you guys were typing at the same time.

That really bothers me.

How about a little courtesy while I'm typing?

 

 

[Shallowface]

I think the true source of the aggravation is the annoyance that someone is not being considerate when they move or make a noise during your swing.

 

I realize that being considerate of others has gone completely out of style, but it would be nice if we could have more of it on our golf courses.

 

And yes, if I can hear your music, you aren't being considerate.  And your response that you don't care tells us all we need to know about you.  Better watch yourself because that will bite you somewhere other than the golf course.  With a spouse, an employer, when you encounter road rage, in a bar...hopefully you get the picture. 

[EmperorPenguin]

12 hours ago, Greenie said:

Birds chirping, lawn mowers etc that are constant around me doesn't bother me.

Why not birds chirping?  If I demand complete silence, birds should be no exception.  Golfers should be allowed to back off and restart their preshot routines no matter what, and the slow-play penalty should never apply in the case of a chirping bird.

 

Constant noise I understand.  Bubba Watson at the Ryder Cup, though his need for noise on the first tee did not help his embarrassing performance.  How many points did he win?

Edited January 13 by EmperorPenguin

[Shilgy]

13 hours ago, Greenie said:

 

I am one of those golfers that is sensitive to my surroundings. Sound and sight.

 

It's the noise when I don't expect it that gets me. I seem to pull my head to where the noise is coming from. Birds chirping, lawn mowers etc that are constant around me doesn't bother me. The guy that just yelled "get in the hole" from the next fairway in the middle of my swing always gets me. One guy in our group talks a lot during my swing and it affects my game.

 

The other thing that bothers me is what @Pepperturbo mentions. The same guy that talks a lot in my group will stand behind me. I have had words with this guy before about standing behind me and moving around during my swing. I have great peripheral vision so I pick up movement very easily. Here again seeing this guys movement causes me to pull off the ball.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’m close to this.  Maintenance crew noise doesn’t bother me nor does neighborhood noise or even other groups noise(except the music thing).

It's noise and movement from my own group that bothers me.  
 

Course etiquette seems to be a lost art to some players.

[Cliffy2020]

It’s a distraction. You’re hyper-focused on the ball & BAM noise/movement takes that focus away.  
 

It’s definitely something that can and should be practiced.  I learned the hard way while coaching high school kids.  I’m immune to it now.  Was just reminded of this Thursday when indoor winter simulator league started.  It’s a bar setting so random noises pop up all the time.  It’s great practice

 

In the meantime, I just yelled at one of my kids downstairs to stop whistling - small noises in a quiet room drives me nuts.  Like pen clicks in my frickin’ ear.  Or tapping....  STOP TAPPING!!! Chewing with your mouth open, the sound of plastic bags...  F@CK M3!!!

 

Misophonia is real 

 

Thanks for listening

[Bonneville85308]

19 hours ago, MountainKing said:

Never got it,  I get so focused when I'm in my shot that a bomb could go off and I wouldn't notice it.  That's just me tho.

 

Same here. Only exception might be an air horn in close proximity during my backswing. No other noise - planes, cars, golf carts, maintenance people using machines, animals, people in the group talking, people farting, etc. - bothers me one bit, I usually don't even notice.

 

I used to play with a guy who would carry on a conversation with you and talk during his own backswing.

[Mr. Bean]

It seems to me that some people do not quite understand the role of ambient noise and the "other" noise.

 

Any continuous noise, even of variable volume, is not a problem for majority of golfers. But people starting to talk, cough, sneeze, or any such noise that comes as a surprise is prone to distract a large portion of golfers.

[iacas]

1 hour ago, Mr. Bean said:

It seems to me that some people do not quite understand the role of ambient noise and the "other" noise.

 

Any continuous noise, even of variable volume, is not a problem for majority of golfers. But people starting to talk, cough, sneeze, or any such noise that comes as a surprise is prone to distract a large portion of golfers.

 

Seriously. GolfWRX has managed to compile the world's largest collection of people who profess not to care about a noise coming suddenly and unexpectedly late in their backswings. It's amazing.

 

I don't know that I've ever played with someone who doesn't jump or something a little when an unexpected noise occurs at various points in their swing. It's a reflex. As noted, even Tiger hated it, and he trained for it. You won't find a single PGA Tour player who would not say something to his caddie, the photographer, or bystanders if a camera goes off late in their backswings.

[st1800e]

An extreme example. 
 

 

[bcjim]

One recent rando was playing music from his phone,  talking on his phone,  stepping all over lines, and yet glaring at us while he went through his  routine on the tee.  🤣

 

I'm generally not bothered by much and I try to be quiet and stand still while people hit but I don't care for those that have unreasonable expectations of where I stand,  my degree of stillness,  etc. 

[mshills]

Reacting to a sudden loud noise doesn’t mean you are soft or lack concentration. It’s just a reflex, and there is only so much you can do to minimize that natural response. 
 

If we are talking about something more steady, like a playing partner with zero situational awareness who just has to finish that awesome story or tell that hilarious joke….I find it rude but I won’t stop, I just tee it up, play on, and let him keep bumping gums. 

[kmay__]

I find for myself, having 3 people stand there in complete silence intently focused on me is much more likely to result in me getting in my head and making a mess of the shot. I like to hit my tee shot while people are still milling around by their bags getting a ball, having a drink ect. 

 

Quite often in men's league a guy we play with will say to me "hey aren't you going to tee off?" and I tell him I already did while you guys weren't paying attention hahaha